If you were (or are) a Spanish mum, what would you like an English exchange student to bring as a gift?

[tibetantiger]

Dd's exchange student's mum very kindly sent me some Spanish oil and some charcuterie (there's probably a Spanish word for that...) when her dd came over here.

What would she like to be given in return? We are in London, so could do a Fortnum and Mason brand name type gift; or just some kind of typical English food?

Any ideas, please? Is there anything that's hard to get hold of in Spain?

Anything 'typically English'... my colleagues based in Belgium love things like our marmalade, rich fruit-cake, and Earl Grey. Even naff things like a union flag tea-pot go down a treat.

Thanks...I was wondering if marmalade was a bit "coals to Newcastle", but maybe not.

Earl Grey is a good thought, too. And cake.

Good tea! Really hard to get there and all my spanish friends love English tea. Also posh biscuits perhaps?

I caused scandal when living in Spain (and Mexico) for not regarding 'English Breakfast Tea' as some kind of life-giving product (I don't even drink tea!) so I definitely think this would be appreciated in return. Maybe something like fudge as well?

I was living in Spain when Charles and Diana separated and loads of people asked me the day after "so what's happening with Lady Dee?" (took me a while to figure out who they meant) as if either she or Prince Charles would have called me the night before to let me know the details. So something a bit Royal Family-ish might go well as well - the Queen Mother was partial to the gin I think!

Something Olympic connected?

John Lewis have some lovely London stuff at the mo'. Crockery,notepads etc illustrated with a Pen and ink skyline and red buses.

London 2012 mugs?

All those suggestions are really useful, thank you. I did wonder about Diamond Jubilee commemorative stuff, but London Olympic stuff is a good idea too. I'll nip over to John Lewis as well.

Half my family are french and we always take them fruit cake (like Christmas cake) which they find awesome although I find it disgusting. Fudge was also a favourite, and my cousins loved peanut butter, although I suspect that may have found its way on to the continent by now (plus it's hardly 'english').

Thank you; I'm now thinking: Earl Grey tea; fruit cake; fudge; and some kind of union jacky/queeny packaging.

My Italian family love English tea and proper ale but I don't recommend your DD takes that

Hi I am spanish and I wouldn't recomend tea as it is not very common to drink tea in Spain. I would however recommend Cadbury chocolate fingers, my mum loves them and some of the lovely biscuits you have in England. I think jam or marmalede would be a good idea as I think they are very nice in here. Crumpets is something my friends always ask me for but they will need to know how to cook them as they won't know.